Amniotic fluid is the protector that protects the baby from shock, and is also an essential living environment for maintaining the baby\’s development. Changes in amniotic fluid also change as pregnancy progresses. In the third trimester of pregnancy, amniotic fluid also becomes the basis for judging the maturity of the baby. Once the amniotic water breaks, it means that the pregnant mother may give birth early.
Amniotic fluid is 98% water, with a small amount of inorganic salts, organic hormones, etc. The weight of amniotic fluid generally increases with the number of weeks of pregnancy. Therefore, because amniotic fluid is colorless and odorless, some pregnant mothers mistakenly believe that ruptured amniotic fluid means frequent urination, which causes great harm to the baby.
1. Don’t mistake broken amniotic fluid for frequent urination
Because in the third trimester of pregnancy, the expectant mother\’s vaginal secretions will increase, and the bladder will be compressed by the growing fetus, causing frequent urination. Therefore, when the amniotic water breaks, the pregnant mother will mistakenly think that she wet her pants. At this time, it is important to determine whether the amniotic fluid has broken prematurely.
Under normal circumstances, when the amniotic water breaks, the expectant mother can feel a stream of water flowing out of the vagina, and then the fetus descends and blocks the cervix, so the amount of water flowing out decreases, but it will not stop. If the pregnant mother’s judgment is inaccurate, bacteria may enter the uterus along the vagina and cause complications such as fetal infection and umbilical cord prolapse.
In this regard, expectant mothers can use special chemical test strips to put into the vagina to test whether the amniotic fluid breaks prematurely or urine leaks out. If the dipstick turns dark green when wet, the water has broken. When this test paper is observed under a microscope, small fat lumps and lanugo can also be seen in the amniotic fluid. Of course, you can also tell it by smell. Generally, the smell of urine is more pungent, while the smell of amniotic fluid is lighter and even has some body odor. This may depend on the analysis of expectant mothers.
2. Don’t stand if your amniotic water breaks.
Careful netizens may soon discover that in the movie \”Beijing Meets Seattle\”, the pregnant woman played by Hai Qing suddenly had her water break before giving birth and was so frightened that she stood on the sofa and did not dare to move. This scene may scare many expectant mothers who are about to give birth, right? But this is a movie after all, and it\’s a dangerous move from a medical perspective.
When a pregnant woman realizes that her amniotic fluid has broken, if she is still in a standing position, the amniotic fluid can easily flow out, causing intrauterine fetal distress, fetal asphyxia and other complications. At this time, the expectant mother should lie down first and relax at the same time. Ask family members to observe the amniotic fluid outflow. If a large amount of amniotic fluid flows out, immediately put a pillow under the buttocks after lying down, and try to keep the head low and the buttocks high to prevent umbilical cord prolapse, especially in breech presentation and twins. Notice. Premature rupture of amniotic fluid means the arrival of labor, and it is best to go to the hospital for delivery immediately.
3. Pay attention to premature rupture of amniotic fluid
Premature birth means that the amniotic fluid has broken before the fetus reaches term. Premature rupture of amniotic fluid occurs, causing the amniotic fluid to flow out prematurely and lose its protective effect on the fetus. After the amniotic fluid flows out, the uterus will contract, constantly stimulating uterine contraction.This affects the progress of labor and the blood circulation of the placenta, leading to delayed delivery and fetal hypoxia. If the fetus is less than one month old, the situation is even worse. Because newborns are not fully developed, they are more likely to be infected by bacteria in the amniotic fluid, causing aspiration pneumonia and premature death.
Therefore, expectant mothers should do a good job in preventing premature rupture of amniotic fluid.
1. Regular inspection.
Before the 24th week of pregnancy, pregnant mothers should check once a month; after entering the third trimester, check once every half month; if the pregnancy exceeds 9 months, check once a week; if there are special circumstances, check at any time.
2. Refuse strenuous activities.
Starting from the second trimester, pregnant mothers should stay away from strenuous activities. Not suitable for long walks or runs. They should not be too tired in life and work. Keep a happy mood every day and take a walk outdoors appropriately. Sexual life during pregnancy should also be reduced according to the situation, especially in the last month of pregnancy, sexual life is prohibited to avoid stimulating the uterus and causing premature rupture of amniotic fluid.
4. What should I do if my amniotic water breaks?
1. Stay calm.
Once it is determined that the expectant mother\’s amniotic fluid has broken prematurely, the expectant mother and her family should not panic too much. People who are panicking are more likely to behave inappropriately. To prevent prolapse of the baby\’s umbilical cord, immediately let the mother lie down and use pillows or clothing to elevate the breech position.
2. Keep the vulva clean.
Expectant mothers can put a clean sanitary napkin on the vulva pad. If the amniotic fluid flow is large, you can use a clean and sterilized towel to pad the vulva opening to reduce vulvar infection. At this time, the expectant mother can no longer enter the bath.
3. Rush to the hospital immediately.
As long as the amniotic water breaks, the expectant mother must go to the hospital immediately regardless of whether she has reached her due date or whether she has contractions. The doctor will determine the treatment plan based on the specific situation of the expectant mother. Whether calling an ambulance or driving to the hospital, expectant mothers also need to be helped to lie down with their hips raised on the way to the hospital.